Courses

McKissock Online Courses Get High Marks From Students! McKissock takes pride in it's online courses and it shows! Our 20 currently available National Association National Association of Home Inspectors courses have received 5,336 reviews for a rating of 4.26 out of 5.

Basics of Green Building for Real Estate

There are hundreds of controversial ideas being asserted by environmentalists, politicians, and other stakeholders about the subject of “green building;” therefore, it’s important that, as a real estate agent, you have a place at the table and possess working knowledge of the principles of green building. You will have access to in-depth information on the principles and give an overview of recent activity across the United States regarding the green building movement and the ways in which consumers are responding to this relatively new market segment.

This course is iPad compatible.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Attic Ventilation

Attic ventilation is an extremely important component of keeping a house
in good condition. Having a properly sized and well balanced attic
ventilation system helps to provide comfort in the home, protects
building materials and structure, and reduces energy consumption. The
problems and damage created by inadequately ventilated attic space can
be significant over time and can require expensive repairs and
replacements. This course will provide you will in-depth information on
the general principles and characteristics of attic ventilation.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Plumbing Cross Connections

A cross-connection is present when there is a possibility that potable
water could mix with non-potable water. Cross connections can easily
happen in any home and can pose potential health dangers to inhabitants.
There are a number of documented cases where cross-connections are said
to have caused people serious illness, injury, and in extreme
cases, death. This course will provide an in-depth look into plumbing
cross connections, plumbing systems, and why cross connections should be
inspected or determined. In addition, this course will review the
processes of inspecting the plumbing piping, sanitary piping, and
vent system, and will offer some facts that pertain to plumbing systems
and cross connections regarding residential construction.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Safety Precautions for Home Inspectors

Did you know that nearly two in five existing homes suffer from some
type of major and potentially dangerous defect? Though many people to
not realize it, home inspection is a risky industry whose professionals
must be aware of their safety and that of their clients at all times. A
major component to this awareness is having a comprehensive
understanding of your surroundings and any potential defects in the
home, which can be challenging because your “workplace” changes with
every inspection. This course will provide you with in-depth information
on safety precautions for home inspectors through a discussion of
safety clothing and equipment, proper procedure, possible safety
concerns, and the necessary preventative measures to take in your daily operations as a home inspector.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

A Sporifying Encounter

Mold has become a major source of concern related to health in the indoor environment. Over 25 percent of homes in the U.S. are affected by mold infestation. Though most molds are of the non-toxic variety, there are certain types of molds that can present serious health risks. Therefore, as the home inspector, it is of the utmost importance that you are able to correctly identify and remediate mold growth in a home, as it can be a danger for homeowners and their families. This course will cover basic information about mold, as well as many of the mold strains and inspector might expect to find in a residence. In addition, this course will provide you with in-depth information on the various places to search out mold growth and methods of measurement and remediation. This is an overall advanced course for both residential and commercial buildings.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Sealing and Insulating a Home

This course is iPad compatible. This course describes some of the most important aspects of sealing and insulating a home. It begins with background information on the three ways in which heat is transferred. Following this, a number of ways in which the energy efficiency of a home can be assessed are described. An explanation of R-Value then leads into a discussion of the various types of insulation. Some resources for checking for financial incentives are listed before the second chapter gives specifics for how to check a home for air leaks and insulation levels. Areas of the house are prioritized with a substantial amount of time spent discussing the attic, the most important place to seal and insulate well. Two attic projects are described in detail: sealing the attic and insulating the attic. Finally, a discussion of important considerations in other areas of the house is presented.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Inspecting What's Outside the Home

Most homes have imperfections. Many of them are simple annoyances, but
some of them represent very real hazards. These hazards are not only
found inside the home. Aside from the usual walls, windows, roof and
foundation condition, there is still much to examine on the outside of
any house. As a housing inspector, any surrounding condition that
affects the values or usefulness of the home should be included in your
report. Potential issues can range anywhere from complications with
drainage to encroaching root structures. This course will focus on these
and other potential exterior hazards and will emphasize the ways in which these outdoors hazards may affect the long term health of a home.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Radon Inspection for Residential Properties

You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it still may be a problem in
your home. Radon is a carcinogenic gas that is hazardous to inhale,
therefore build-up of radon in homes is a detrimental health concern.
When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting
lung cancer. Each year, about 12% of lung cancer cases and more than
20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung causes. Therefore, as a home
inspector, it is integral that you are knowledgeable about the
identification and remediationof radon gas in the home. This course
will provide some basic information on radon for residential properties,
including the definition of radon, an explanation of where it comes
from, and a discussion of how it relates to the general home inspector.
This course will also review how radon enters a structure and common
mitigation methods. The overall course level is intermediate.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Home Inspection - From the Ground Up

Many people ask: "Why does a newly constructed home need an inspection?"
"Isn't a newly constructed home perfect and safe?" Unfortunately, this
is not always the case. There could be problems with the home that are
not necessarily code violations, yet have serious consequences for the
new homeowner. The last thing any homeowner wants to hear after they
move into a home is that there is a problem that could have been
identified during the construction process. Therefore it is your
responsibility, as the inspector, to be certain that all of the
components of the home, from the building structure to the mechanical
systems, are functioning properly. This course will provide you with
extensive information on residential home inspection and construction
and will cover the entire building process literally fromthe ground
up. The main topics of this course include site preparation, footings
and foundations, framing systems, insulation and ventilation, HVAC, and
mechanical systems. In addition, this course contains a number of
drawings and photographs to illustrate the construction process.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Electrical Inspection Inside & Out

Electricity has become an integral part of the
functioning of the Western world and is a component of our daily lives
which we often take for granted. We depend on it for lighting, heating
and air conditioning, and other various systems and appliances such as
cellphones and laptops. However, according to the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA), electrical problems are one of the
largest causes of property damagein home structure fires across the
U.S. For this reason it is necessary that you, as the inspector, possess
a thorough understanding of the correct installation and inspection
processes of electrical systems which are integral to a safe, secure,
and functional home. The author will provide you with extensive
information on accepted construction practices and required safety
features of electrical work so that you may gain a deeper understanding
of the codes most pertinent to any given dwelling. This course is
designed to fulfill three hours of home inspection continuing education
credits.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Basic Foundation Construction

A sound and strong foundation is essential to a home’s structural
integrity and durability. When the foundation of a home is constructed
incorrectly or poorly, the resulting financial loss due to foundation
failure can be enormous. Evidence of foundation failure may scare many
homebuyers away from a sale, or force the seller to accept less than
what the property should be worth. As an inspector, you cannot see
much of the foundation on a completed home. However, understanding
construction techniques are useful for conducting construction phase
inspections. This course will review and reinforce basic foundation
training and knowledge and will provide additional insight that an
inspector will require while investigating site preparation and
construction during Phase Inspections. This course includes material
using the International Code Council's 2012 International Residential
Code for One and Two Family Dwellings (2012 IRC) Chapter 4 and other
selected sections. The overall course level is beginner to intermediate,
and encompasses subjects appropriate for both residential and
commercial home inspectors.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Energy Efficient Home Inspections

Did you know that energy efficient construction is saving the United States government, citizens, and businesses
more than $500 million per year in avoided energy costs? Though there
are a number of financial benefits to owning an energy efficient home,
one of the primary advantages is the home’s reduced impact on the
environment. Though home inspections are not intended to be an energy
audit, understanding energy efficiency and energy efficient construction
are important for home inspectors. This course will provide an in-depth
look into energy usage, design, and building for residential
structures, will explore the multiple components of residential
construction, and will discuss ways to make homes more energy efficient.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Thermal Imaging for Home Inspectors

Thermal imaging is a non-invasive, non-destructive way of evaluating conditions below a house’s surface. There
are a number of defects that cannot be seen with the naked eye or with
conventional or digital photography, such as the presence of faulty
wiring, termites, varying types of mold, or wet insulation. Therefore, a
professional home inspector equipped with a thermal imaging camera and
properly trained and certified in its use can find problems with a house
that a normal home inspectors cannot. In addition, by utilizing thermal
imaging reports, you will be able to address defects quickly and
prioritize the necessary repairs to the home. This course is designed to
help students achieve core competencies related to the understanding of
thermal imaging and its use in the home inspection field. Students will
gain familiarity with thermal imaging terminology and equipment and
will learn how thermal imaging should be used to identify potential
conditions in a home. The overall course level is advanced, and includes subjects appropriate for both residential and commercial home inspectors.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Interior and Exterior Inspections of Key Areas

Though many people may feel that they know all that there is to know
about constructing or purchasing a house, they are often surprised to
discover how complex these processes can be. As the home inspector you
play an integral role in these processes, for your assessment of a
property’s indoor and outdoor components can help your clients to make
an informed and intelligent buying decision. This course will provide
you with an overview of the interior and exterior inspection processes.
The material will cover,in depth, all components of a home,
including the attic, basement and crawlspace, kitchen and bedroom
floors, garage, exterior walls and roofs, windows and doors, electrical
elements, foundation walls, yards, and grading. This course is geared
for residential inspectors.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Practical and Successful Reporting

Did you know that the average typewritten home inspection report is well
over 5,000 words? The average newspaper reporter is responsible for
only 800 to 2,000 words per day! The success or failure of a home
inspection report can often hinge on a single word, therefore your
primary objective, regardless if you use a hand-written checklist, or
computer-generated reporting system, is to clearly and concisely explain
things to your client. This course will cover numerous aspects of
practical reporting techniques as well as problems that many inspectors
will face during the reporting process. In addition, the student will
also learn about professionalism within the home inspector field.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Roof Inspection

The roof is a home’s primary line of defense from the natural elements
such as wind, rain, hail, ice, snow, and heat. However, every day your
roof is exposed to weather and other hazards may contribute to its decay
and deterioration, which increases the risk of damage to the roof and
the contents below it. This makes the roof perhaps the most vulnerable
part of a building. As an inspector, it is integral that you understand
the key information pertaining to the background of a roof inspection.
Through this course, you will gain familiarity with roof inspection
terminology and equipment and will learn how to successfully complete a
roof inspection in a variety of weather-related elements and on a
variety of roofs. In addition, this course will also provide you with
information on specific roofing materials, how those materials respond
to different weather elements, and how to safely inspect different roof
types while not damaging the roof or injuring yourself during the
inspection.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Pool and Spa Inspection

Swimming pools and spas can be great recreational additions to a
property but do require significant inspection and maintenance in order
to assure they remain in good condition, are safe and healthy.
Therefore, swimming pools, spas, and recreational water features must be
designed to ensure stability, durability, and safety. As a home
inspector, it is necessary that you have a comprehensive understanding
of proper procedures and requirements associated with installation,
relocation, or modification of a pool or spa. This course will
familiarize you with accepted construction practices and required safety
features of all pools and spas by utilizing the standards of the
International Codes and Association of Pool & Spa Professionals
(APSP) and the requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. Additional
codes governing the construction of the various types of pools and spas
can be found in the International Code Council's 2012 International
Residential Code for One and Two Family Dwellings (2012 IRC).

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

HVAC Systems and Ductwork

The overall course level is beginner to intermediate, and encompasses subjects appropriate for both residential and commercial home inspectors. It has been designed primarily as a review to reinforce basic foundation training and knowledge. It also provides additional insight that an inspector will require while investigating site preparation and construction during Phase Inspections. The following chapters are designed to familiarize the inspector with the accepted construction practices of foundations from the soil on up. This course includes material using the International Code Council's 2012 International Residential Code for One and Two Family Dwellings (2012 IRC) Chapter 4 and other selected. While code is discussed, it is not the intention for this to be a "code" heavy course rather an expansion on areas of basic understanding that the inspector may not review very often.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Residential Sewage Disposal Systems

Sewage contains millions of bacteria in each cubic centimeter, making it
incredibly dangerous for the health of the homeowner and their family.
Therefore, it is integral that a home inspector understand the specific
requirements of sewage disposal systems, for incorrect installation,
maintenance, or decommissioning may cause dramatic health and safety
issues. This course will provide the professional inspector with a
comprehensive understanding of private residential sewage and septic
waste disposal, including the codes most pertinent to any given
dwelling. In addition, this course will familiarize the inspector with
accepted construction practices and required health and safety features
for residential sewage disposal systems. This course fulfills four hours of home-inspection continuing education credits.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

Inspecting and Identifying A/C & Heat Pump Systems

Did you know that two-thirds of all homes in the United States have
heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems? This is
perhaps due to the number of benefits HVAC systems can provide. Not only
do HVAC systems drive occupant comfort in buildings by controlling the
air temperature, they also intake outside air, exhaust or filter
contaminated air, and efficiently use energy. HVAC technology combines a
number of topics: from general communication standards in building
technologies to proper installation and adjustment practices. This
course will provide a look into air conditioning and heating systems for
residential properties and will discuss criteria for both air
conditioning and heat pumps as they relate to the general home
inspector. The overall level of this course is advanced.

This course has been approved by, and is accepted for CEU credit, by the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.